Now, the older people are being reached. Friday evening a man came in late to escort his wife home. Saturday he came early, and at the very first opportunity was on his feet, saying, “For forty years I hadn’t thought I had a soul till I came in here last night. Help me to find Jesus.” He went forward, fell upon his knees, and was so penitent it did not seem strange that that very night the publican’s God sent him “to his house justified.” As he met our pastor the next morning at church, he exclaimed, “Mr. Alexander, you convinced me, but Jesus saved me.” It would do a stoic good to look upon his beaming face and see what grace has done for that man.
It seems to me that the most interesting feature of the A. M. A. work in New Orleans is its leavening influence upon Roman Catholicism. I was talking, after service one evening, with a beautiful girl who had been forward for prayers, and whose face wore a genuine look of deep contrition. On asking her if she attended church here regularly, she replied, “No; I go to the Catholic Church.” Another girl was sitting beside a member of our family one evening, when a boy behind whispered to her, “Don’t you ask for prayers! if you do, I’ll tell the priest!” I hear that a large number in the school are professed Catholics, but are allowed to attend on account of the superior instruction.
TENNESSEE.
Le Moyne Normal School.
Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 16th, 1878.
The Le Moyne teachers, last year, organized among themselves a reading circle for their own pleasure and improvement. Each Thursday evening was devoted to the study of an author. After a while, other friends were invited to join them for a single reading. The custom was continued after the long vacation, and became a part of the family life.
So much interest was manifested among the occasional guests, that some of them proposed that the circle be enlarged to include all the colored teachers of the city. The proposal was favorably received, and the new literary society has superseded the original. The character of exercises has been changed to meet the demands of this wider and different element. The programme this week was as follows:
Historical: “Benjamin Franklin—his public life; his private life.” Poetical: “Longfellow—sketch of his life; selections from his writings.” Debate: “Resolved, that the Crusades were a benefit to the world.” “Humorous Reading.” Scientific: “Cell Life.” “Budget.”
Music is interspersed, and discussions upon different topics are presented. Ten minutes is the utmost time allowed each participant. The only drawback is the lack of books of reference. Our small library furnishes some assistance, and the additions made to it from time to time help us in our preparations for the literary society.